Mail box switch



June 2, 1931. S. LANG MAIL Box swITcH Filed March 6, 1929 HG. l.

' ,d TTENE'X' Patented June 2, 1931 UNITED STATES BIGISMUND LANGQOF ST.PAUL, MINNESOTA MAIL -BOX SWITCH Application med more, 192s. serial m.smear.

My invention relates to electric signal means for mail boxes of the typemounted on the wall of a house and the main object of the invention isto provide a simple,

' 5 eiicient, inaccessible and inexpensive device of said kind which maybe attached or mounted to operate on mail-boxes already in use orincorporated in the mail-box structure when manufactured. The simplicityand effectiveness of the device are hereinafter fully set forthreference being had to the accompanying drawings showing a preferredconstruction, in which, o Y

Fig. 1 is a front view of a ma1lbox of the type in which my signal meansare most adaptable.

F1 2 is a right hand edge view of Fig. 1 an its base and top lid s ownin section about as on line 2-2 in Fig. 1 to reveal zo the circuitclosin means.

Referring to t e drawings by reference numerals, I have illustrated anall metal mail-box comprising a main uprilght receptacle 5 formedintegral with a s allow base 5B with a continuous quadrangular flangesaid base being laced against a wall 6 (see Fig. 2) and fixed) theretoby means of screws 7 insertiblel in the back wall 5W of the receptacleas shown. The upper portions of the side walls of the receptacle may becut back as on line 8 (Fig. 2) said part .being normally covered by anupri ht main lid 9 hinged as at 10 and exten ing down to cover the majorfront part of the receptacle as shown. Said lower part of this main lidis provided with an aperture 11 located to straddle a fixed staple 12 inthe main receptacle and the said lid thus adapted to be locked in closedposition by means of a pad-lock 13 or the like. It will be understoodthat the upper edge of said main lid is in an angular plane 91?providing a corresponding opening for insertion of mail in thereceptable.

The latter opening is normally closed by a top-lid 14 hinged on ahinge-bar 15 above the hinges 10, and to said bar 15 the toplid 14 andbase 5B are pivotally secured by piano-type hinge members 14H and 5Brespectively (see Fig. 1).

gOne of the hinge members 14H is provlded with a ton e extension 14Textending inwardly an downwardl within the base 5B toward the wall 6 anterminating in spaced relation to a fixed -contact plate 16 secured onand properly insulated with relation to the back wall 5W of thereceptacle, said plate 16 and tongue 14T being in electric circuit 17having a source of current 18 and an electric alarm 19 represented as abell in Fig. 2 but which may be either a bell, a buzzer or a light.

It will now be readily understood that when either the top lid 14 or lid9, or both, are raised for insertion of mail or opening of thereceptacle, or for removal of mail, the top lid 14 is raised and willswin arm 14T into Contact with 16 as shown otted in Fi 2 and thus closecircuit and operate the slgnal 19. Occupants of a house will thus bewarned by the signal when a postman is putting mail in the box or whenany other person is tampering with the box. Thus the 'device serves as auseful, automatic signal notl only when mail is put in the receptaclebut when any unauthorized person is attempting to extract mail from thebox. The mechanical and electrical means described may ofcourse beaiiixed and connected to mail-boxes already in use but the circuitclosing means are preferably designed to be incorporated in themanufacture of new mail-boxes. Modiiications of structure and detailsmay be embodied without departing from the scope and spirit of thelnvention. Y

I claim:

In a mail box comprising an elongated upright receptacle provided with amail receiving aperture at its u per end, a hinged 90 lid normallyclosing said aperture, the receptacle comprisingl further a lar eclosure hinged below the inge means o the said lid, the upper end ofsaid large closure formed to provide the mail inserting open- 95 ing andsaid lid normally resting thereon, an electric switch within thereceptable comprising a stationary contact fixed in roximity to saidhinge means, ahinge circuit closing member comprising a tongue inte- 10'5 opening of the large closure.

gral of the hinged part of said lid and normally with its free end inspaced relation to the xed contact and arrangedto close circuit b'y uward movement of the said lid, and said li arranged to also be raised byIn testimony whereof I ax my signaturet SIGISMUND LANG.

